MUGURUZA READY FOR BUSINESS AFTER OSCAR
After Hollywood glitz, its back to business at Roland Garros for Muguruza
LONDON: Being the reigning Wimbledon champion and former French Open winner has its perks for Garbine Muguruza, like being invited to walk the red caarpet at this year’s Oscars in Hollywoood.
Fun as that was, howwever, the powerful Spaniard knnows her real place next week willw be fighting it out on the red dirt trying to add to her Grrand Slam total.
The world number three has had an up-and-dowwn year, but will arrive aat Roland Garros as one ofo the main contenders.
Last year proved a chastening experience iin Paris when, as defending champion, she lost to loocal favourite Kristina Mladennovic in front of a raucous, ppartisan crowd and broke downn in tears afterwards during her news conference.
Some might say a nighht mixing it with the stars of the silvver screen might be more preferablle than facing a hostile crowd on a dusty clay court, especially as the 224-year-old is dabbling in fashion ddesign and recently modelled a seriees of looks for fashion bible Vogue.
Muguruza is quick to knockk that notion back.
“I was invited (to the Oscars) by Rolex and thought it wasw a greatg opportunity, a chance in a lifetime,” Muguruza, announced as a global brand ambassador for mineral water company Evian this week, said.
“I felt like a bit out of place, like, ‘what am I doing here?’ It’s all about superstars and I was there representing the world of sport. It was a good experience to witness all the Hollywood glam. But I’m in a different world of competition.
“I’m more of a warrior. I live in a different world.”
Venezuela-born Muguruza burst on to the scene in 2015 when she reached the Wimbledon final and lost to Serena Williams.
She avenged that defeat a year later in the French Open final and then beat Venus Williams to win Wimbledon last year. She rose to number one in the world in September.
This season she claimed the Monterrey title in April but her form on clay has been inconsistent, losing to Russian 21-year-old Daria Kasatkina att the Madrid Open before sufferiing a surprise defeat by Australiann Daria Gavrilova in Rome.
Muguruza, hhowever, says she has learned not too dwell on defeats and ‘overthink’ – traits that hampered her in the monnths after her stunning 2016 French OOpen triumph.
“I just thinkk now that when the day comes I’ll be ready,” she said.
“You get uppset for five minutes and then you’re like, ‘okay, it’s time to do somethinng. What can I do for next time’?”
One thing thhat has not changed is her ultra-agggressive style and it never will, ass long as she is hungry foor Slams.
“I have never seen someone winning such an important title by not being super-aggressive,” MMuguruza, who is bback working fulltimme with coach Sam Sumykk after ending a spell with ffellow Spaniard and former Wimmbledon champion Conchita Marttinez.
“You have tto go and get it. You will never winn a Grand Slam waiting for it. Yoou have to have an aggressive gamme.
“Of course eevery player has their own style, somme more spin, some more flat, buut you need to be aggressive in women’s tennis.
“If you are not, you are out.” After the French it will be on to the grasscourts and Wimbledon where Muguruza will try to defend the title.
“In Spain the French was the tournament but I love the history and elegance of Wimbledon,” she said. — Reuters